Hospital opens facility to speed up patient discharge process

A hospital in Middlesbrough has opened a ‘discharge suite’ to provide a safe and relaxing place away from the ward where patients can wait for their prescriptions and transport home.

The new facility at the James Cook University Hospital has been launched in a bid to have patients discharged home from hospital faster and it also means more beds are kept free for urgent and unplanned admissions. This helps to prevent potential delays and cancellations.

Linda Smith (pictured far right), discharge facilitator team lead, said: 'If we can free up a bed, it might save another patient from having to wait.'

Patients who cannot be picked up before 10am are transferred to the discharge suite, where nurses and healthcare assistants are on hand to help them.

Based near the hospital’s bridge entrance for easy access, the discharge suite has its own dedicated patient transport ambulance and priority access to the hospital’s main pharmacy.

It is open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and has capacity to see up to 300 patients a week.

Clinical matron for trauma and spinal injuries Keir Rumins said: ‘It’s nice for the patients as it gets them off the ward and one step closer to going home, and it helps us keep beds free for urgent admissions.

‘Late afternoon to evening is our busiest time, after people have been to their GP, clinic or A&E, so it’s important to get people home as early as possible on their day of discharge.’

Lead nurse for discharge Julie Poultney said: ‘Patients can help us by asking staff about their planned discharge date and relatives and carers can help by being available to collect patients from as early as 10am on their day of discharge.’